system and method for heating a poultry watering device

ABSTRACT

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a watering system configured to provide water to livestock. The system includes a water basin defining a trough configured to retain water, a reservoir mounted to the water basin, wherein the reservoir is configured to receive and retain water above the water basin. A water path is defined from the reservoir to the trough, wherein water within the reservoir is configured to pass into the water basin through gravity. A first heating element configured to heat water within the reservoir. A second heating element is configured to heat water within the trough, wherein the second heating element is separate and distinct from the first heating element.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No.12/695,344, entitled “System and Method for Heating a Poultry WateringDevice,” filed Jan. 28, 2010, which relates to and claims priority fromU.S. Provisional Application No. 61/153,378, entitled “Heated PoultryWaterer,” filed Feb. 18, 2009, both of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a system andmethod for providing water to livestock, such as poultry, and moreparticularly, to a system and method for heating water within a wateringdevice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gravity-feed watering devices have been used for a number of years inorder to provide water for livestock, such as chickens, to drink. Ingeneral, the watering device includes a basin having a low wall thatdefines a drinking trough. A metal or plastic water reservoir is mountedabove the basin. Typically, the reservoir has a fluid capacity of one tofive gallons.

In use, the reservoir is positioned on the basin such that an open endis downwardly-oriented, akin to a bucket that is turned upside down. Inorder to fill the watering device, the reservoir is detached from thebasin. The reservoir is then inverted so that its open end is exposed.Water may then be filled into the reservoir, which then retains thewater. After the reservoir is filled, the basin is reattached to thereservoir, and the device is tipped over, such that the basin isupwardly-oriented and the reservoir is downwardly-oriented. In thisorientation, the outer circumferential wall of the basin overhangs thereservoir, as the diameter of the basin exceeds that of the reservoir.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conventional wateringdevice 10. The device 10 includes a basin 12 having base 14 integrallyformed with an outer wall 16 defining a water-retaining volumetherebetween. The device 10 also includes a reservoir 18 having a base20 integrally formed with circumferential walls 22. An open end of thereservoir leads to a cavity 24 configured to receive and retain water26.

As shown in FIG. 1, the device 10 is in an operational configurationsuch that the reservoir 18 is attached to the basin 12. A drinkingtrough 28 is defined between the outer wall 16 and the edges of thewalls 22.

A channel or notch may be formed proximate the edge of walls 22 of thereservoir 18. The channel allows water to flow by force of gravity fromthe reservoir 18 into the trough 28. As water flows out of the reservoir18, it is replaced by air that bubbles past the edge and collects in anair pocket above the water 26 contained within the reservoir 18.

The water 26 inside the reservoir 18 flows into the drinking trough 28until the water level in the trough 28 rises above the lower edge 30 ofthe reservoir 18. Accordingly, air is prevented from entering thereservoir 18 to take the place of the water 26. At this point, a vacuumforms above the surface of the water 26 within the reservoir, andambient air pressure quickly balances the water and air pressure insidethe reservoir 18, thereby preventing additional water 26 from flowinginto the trough 28.

Watering devices, such as the device 10, are often used outdoors or inunheated buildings, such as chicken coops. In these settings, airtemperature may drop below freezing. In order to prevent ice fromforming in the watering devices, some individuals opt to employ highwattage light bulbs above the watering devices. Alternatively, oradditionally, heated metal bases may be used to heat the water. However,the use of light bulbs may prove very inefficient and ineffective, andheated bases typically cannot be used with plastic watering devices, assuch could melt or otherwise damage the plastic.

United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0245308, entitled“Heated Poultry Fountain,” filed Apr. 9, 2007 (the “Clark application”),discloses a system that incorporates a heating element into the basin.The heating element covers the underside of the basin and is disposedalong an inner wall of the drinking trough. The Clark applicationrecognizes that water in the drinking trough will lose heat much fasterthan the water within the reservoir due to its smaller volume and directexposure to ambient air. Accordingly, the Clark application devotes atleast 40% of the heating element to heating the trough in order to havea higher wattage per volume of water in that volume. Thus, whenever theheating element is activated, water within the trough is heated to ahigher temperature.

In a system such as disclosed in the Clark application, however, thethermostat that controls the power supplied to the heating element ispositioned to monitor the temperature of the reservoir. Because the massof water in the reservoir may be 30-50 times greater than the mass ofwater in the drinking trough, and the water in the reservoir isinsulated to a certain degree, while the water in the trough is not, therate of heat loss for water in the trough may be several orders ofmagnitude greater than for that in the reservoir. Hence, water in thetrough cools much quicker than water within the reservoir.

For example, suppose the thermostat is set to activate when the watertemperature reaches 4° C. Typical thermostats exhibit a hysteresis ofaround 10° C., so it is safe to assume that the water in the reservoirmay have been initially 14° C. or higher. Assuming that the water in thedrinking trough is heated to a much higher temperature because of thehigher wattage per unit water volume around the trough, the watertemperature in the trough may be as high as 40° C.

The rate of heat loss is given be the following equation:

Q=mcΔ/Δt

where Q is the rate of heat loss, m is the mass of the water, c is thespecific heat of water, ΔT is the change in temperature, and Δt is thelength of time.

Assuming a best-case condition in which the rate of heat loss for waterwithin the reservoir and the trough is the same, the equations for thereservoir and the trough may be set to equal one another:

Q₁=Q₂

m ₁ cΔT ₁ /Δt=m ₂ cΔT ₂ /Δt

Using a one gallon reservoir as an example, the mass of the water in thereservoir may typically be around 10 times the mass of the water in thedrinking trough. That is, m₁=10m₂. Thus,

10m ₂ cΔ ₁ /Δt=m ₂ cΔT ₂ /Δt

ΔT ₂ /Δt=10ΔT ₁ /Δt

Therefore, in best-case conditions, when the rate of heat loss is thesame for both the reservoir and the drinking trough, the rate oftemperature change for the water in the drinking trough will be 10 timesfaster than for the water in the reservoir. Accordingly, the water inthe reservoir may cool to 10° C., while the water in the trough isalready freezing.

In actual conditions, however, the rate of heat loss for water in thedrinking trough is typically much higher than that within the reservoir,so the discrepancy noted above is exacerbated. To compensate, the setpoint of the thermostat is typically much higher (for example, 16° C.).Then, while the water in the reservoir varies from 16° C. to 26° C., thewater in the drinking trough varies from 0° C. to 40° C. Maintenance ofwater temperature at such an artificially high temperature isinefficient and costly.

Additionally, the higher temperature to which the water is heatedincreases the rate of evaporation. Therefore, the reservoir typicallyneeds to be refilled frequently. Moreover, hotter water is lessdesirable for drinking, even by livestock.

If the thermostat is moved from the reservoir to the trough, the heatingelement may shut off too soon before enough heat is delivered to thereservoir. As a result, water within the reservoir may freeze andpossibly cracker the reservoir.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a watering systemconfigured to provide water to livestock. The system includes a waterbasin, a reservoir, and first and second heating elements.

The water basin defines a trough configured to retain water. Thereservoir is mounted to the water basin. The reservoir is configured toreceive and retain water above the water basin. A water path is definedfrom the reservoir to the trough. Water within the reservoir isconfigured to pass into the water basin through gravity.

The first heating element is configured to heat water within thereservoir. The second heating element is configured to heat water withinthe trough. The second heating element is separate and distinct from thefirst heating element.

The system may also include a first temperature sensor, such as athermostat or thermistor, configured to sense the temperature of one orboth of at least a portion of the reservoir and/or water within thereservoir. The first temperature sensor is configured to selectivelyactivate and deactivate the first heating element based on the sensedtemperature.

The system may also include a second temperature sensor, such as athermostat or thermistor, configured to sense the temperature of one orboth of at least a portion of the trough and/or water within the trough.The second temperature sensor is configured to selectively activate anddeactivate the second heating element based on the sensed temperature.

The first heating element may be located underneath an open end of thereservoir. The second heating element may be located on a wall definingan inner boundary of the trough.

The system may also include a processing unit in communication with thefirst and second heating elements. The processing unit selectivelyactivates and deactivates the first and second heating elements based ondetected water temperatures.

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method of heatingwater within a gravity-feed poultry watering device. The method includesdetecting the temperature of water within a water reservoir of thepoultry watering device with a first temperature sensor, selectivelyactivating and deactivating a first heating element proximate at least aportion of the water reservoir based on the detected temperature of thewater within the water reservoir, detecting the temperature of waterwithin a drinking trough connected to the water reservoir through afluid path with a second temperature sensor, and selectively activatingand deactivating a second heating element proximate at least a portionof the drinking trough based on the detected temperature of the waterwithin the drinking trough.

The selectively activating and deactivating the first heating elementmay be based on a first temperature set-point. The selectivelyactivating and deactivating the second heating element may be based on asecond temperature set-point that differs from the first temperatureset-point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conventional wateringdevice.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a watering device,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method of operating a wateringdevice, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a watering system 32,according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system 32includes a basin 34 having a base 36 integrally formed with anupstanding circumferential wall 38. A reservoir 40 is positioned overthe basin 34, and is configured to allow water to pass into an annulardrinking trough 42 defined by the wall 38 and an interior island 44 ofthe basin 34.

As shown in FIG. 1, the island 44 is lower than upper edges of the wall38. Accordingly, a fluid path 46 is defined from the interior of thereservoir 40, over the island 44, and into the drinking trough 42.

At least one heating element 48 is secured above or below the uppersurface of the island 44 and directed toward the interior chamber 50 ofthe reservoir 50. The heating element 48 is configured to heat waterwithin the interior chamber 50. The heating element 48 may be adisk-shaped heating element that covers, or is underneath, a top surfaceof the island 44. The heating element 48 is electrically connected to atemperature sensor 52.

Additionally, at least one heating element 54 is secured on orunderneath the island 44 proximate the trough 42. The heating element 54is configured to heat water within the trough 42. The heating element 54may be an annular-shaped heating element that tracks an inner wall ofthe basin that defines an inner boundary of the trough 42. The heatingelement 54 is electrically connected to a temperature sensor 56.

The sensor 56 is disposed proximate the inner wall of the island 44.Optionally, the sensor 56 may be located proximate the bottom surface ofthe trough 42. It has been found that placement of the sensor 56 inthese locations provides exceptional sensing response.

The wattage of the heating element 54 may differ from that of theheating element 48. Thus, the system 32 may enable differential heatingof water at different locations. That is, water within the trough 42 maybe heated to a first temperature, while water within the reservoir 40may be heated to a second temperature that differs from the firsttemperature.

As shown, embodiments of the present invention provide a system 32including two separate heating elements 48 and 54. The heating element48 provides heat to water within the interior chamber 50 of thereservoir 40, while the heating element 54 provides heat to water withinthe trough 42. Each heating element 48 and 54 is independentlycontrolled by a separate and distinct temperature sensor 52 and 56,respectively.

The heating element 48 may be electrically connected to the temperaturesensor 52 through a switch 60. Similarly, the heating element 54 may beelectrically connected to the temperature sensor 56 through a switch 62.The switches 60 and 62 allow the temperature sensors 52 and 56,respectively, to selectively activate and deactivate the heatingelements 48 and 54, respectively, based on set-points of the sensors 52and 56.

Each heating element 48 and 54 is independently controlled by itsrespective thermostat 52 and 56 and the switches 60 and 62 to form aheating circuit. The two separate and distinct heating circuits can bewired in parallel to a single power source (not shown).

In certain embodiments, the sensors 52, 56, and switches 60 and 62,respectively, combine to form bimetal thermostats that are used ascontrol devices for each heating element 48 and 54, respectively. Insuch a configuration, each thermostat is in thermal contact with theouter surfaces of the island 44. For plastic basins, a metal insert orscrew that passes through the basin 34 may be employed to increase thethermal conductivity between the reservoir water and the thermostat, ifdesired.

The sensors 52 and 56 may be mechanical, such as bimetal thermostats, orelectronic, such as thermistors. The switches 60 and 62 may bemechanical contacts, such as found in a thermostat, or a triac and/or arelay.

Additional heating elements with their own respective controllingdevices may be added in parallel. For example, a small heating elementmay be desired to cover a tube leading from the reservoir to thedrinking trough or to a detached drinking tough.

The temperature sensors 52 and 56 and heating elements 48 and 54 may beaffixed directly to the underside of the basin 34 (such as anupwardly-indented portion that defines the island 44). Alternatively,the sensors 52 and 56 and the heating elements 48 and 54 may bedetachably secured to mounting brackets that attach to the basin 34.

The power supplied to the heating elements 48 and 54 may be alternatingor direct current, and may be supplied through a single electrical cordleading to a power source, such that the heating circuits are wired inparallel. Optionally, power to each heating circuit may be routed fromseparate and distinct power sources.

Optionally, a processing unit 64 may be positioned on or within thebasin 34. The processing unit 64 may be in electrical communication withthe heating elements 48 and 54 and the sensors 52 and 56. The processingunit 64 may be programmed to control operation of the heating elements48 and 54 based on detected water temperatures. That is, the processingunit 64 may activate and deactivate the heating elements 48 and 54 basedon temperature readings that are relayed to the processing unit 64through the sensors 52 and 56. In this embodiment, the sensors 52 and 56may be thermometers that detect the temperature of water and/or surfacetemperatures of the basin 34 at the locations of the sensors 52 and 56.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method of operating a wateringdevice, according to an embodiment of the present invention. At 70,temperature within a water reservoir is monitored, as described above.At 72, a temperature sensing circuit determines whether the water withinthe reservoir is above a temperature set-point. If the temperatureexceeds the set point, the heating element is not activated at 74, andthe process returns to 70. If, however, the temperature is below theset-point, the heating element is activated at 76 to heat the waterwithin the reservoir, and the process returns to 70.

Additionally, at 78, the temperature of the water within the drinkingtrough is monitored with a separate and distinct sensing circuit, whichdetermines at 80 whether the water within the trough is above atemperature set-point. At 82, if the temperature of the water within thetrough is above the set-point, the separate and distinct trough waterheating element is not activated, and the process returns to 78. If,however, the trough water temperature is below the set-point, at 84, theseparate and distinct trough water heating element is activated, and theprocess returns to 78.

Embodiments of the present invention may be used in conjunction with thesystems and methods shown and described in U.S. application Ser. No.12/695,769, filed Jan. 28, 2010, entitled “System and Method forAutomatically Deactivating a Poultry Watering Device,” assigned toAllied Precision Industries Inc., which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a system and methodof efficiently heating water within a watering system. Because separateand distinct heating circuits are used to heat water within the troughand the reservoir, each heating circuit may be configured to heat waterwithin each location to an ideal temperature that does not wasteelectricity.

While various spatial terms, such as upper, bottom, lower, mid, lateral,horizontal, vertical, and the like may be used to describe embodimentsof the present invention, it is understood that such terms are merelyused with respect to the orientations shown in the drawings. Theorientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed, such thatan upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa, horizontal becomesvertical, and the like.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to theparticular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will includeall embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method of heating water within a gravity-feed poultry wateringdevice, the method comprising: detecting temperature of water within awater reservoir of the poultry watering device with a first temperaturesensor; selectively activating and deactivating a first heating elementproximate at least a portion of the water reservoir based on thedetected temperature of the water within the water reservoir; detectingtemperature of water within a drinking trough connected to the waterreservoir through a fluid path with a second temperature sensor; andselectively activating and deactivating a second heating elementproximate at least a portion of the drinking trough based on thedetected temperature of the water within the drinking trough.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second temperaturesensors comprises a thermostat.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein eachof the first and second temperature sensors comprises a thermistor. 4.The method of claim 1, further comprising using a processing unit tocontrol the selective activation and deactivation of the first andsecond heating elements.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theselectively activating and deactivating the first heating element isbased on a first temperature set-point, and wherein the selectivelyactivating and deactivating the second heating element is based on asecond temperature set-point that differs from the first temperatureset-point.
 6. A method of operating a watering system configured toprovide water to livestock, the method comprising: retaining waterwithin a trough of a water basin; mounting a reservoir to the waterbasin; retaining water within an interior chamber of the reservoir abovethe water basin, wherein a water path is defined from the reservoir tothe trough, wherein water within the reservoir is configured to passinto the water basin through gravity; securing a first heating elementto a first surface of the water basin so that the first heating elementis directed toward the interior chamber of the reservoir; heating waterwithin the reservoir with the first heating element; and securing asecond heating element to a second surface of the water basis thatdefines at least a portion of the trough; and heating water within thetrough with the second heating element.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein the second heating element is separate and distinct from thefirst heating element.
 8. The method of claim 6, further comprisingdetecting temperature of water within the reservoir of the poultrywatering device with a temperature sensor.
 9. The method of claim 8,further comprising selectively activating and deactivating the firstheating element based on the detected temperature of the water withinthe reservoir.
 10. The method of claim 6, further comprising detectingtemperature of water within the trough with a temperature sensor. 11.The method of claim 10, further comprising selectively activating anddeactivating the second heating element based on the detectedtemperature of the water within the trough.
 12. A method of heatingwater within a gravity-feed poultry watering device, the methodcomprising: detecting temperature of water within a reservoir of thepoultry watering device with a first temperature sensor; using aprocessing unit to selectively activate and deactivate a first heatingelement proximate at least a portion of the reservoir based on a firsttemperature set-point of the water within the reservoir; detectingtemperature of water within a trough connected to the reservoir througha fluid path with a second temperature sensor; and using the processingunit to selectively activate and deactivate a second heating elementproximate at least a portion of the trough based on a second temperatureset-point of the water within the trough, wherein the first and secondtemperature set-points are different.